BUSINESS NAME REGISTRATION GUIDELINES

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The name of a business is the title that is used as an identification

or introduction of the business.

1.2 The name of a business can be categorized into two:

(a) Personal name: Uses the name in the identity card. This
category does not need to be reviewed for approval.
Example Ruslan Bin Mohamad, Lee Yng Fei and Sharmila A/P
Avaniappan.

(b) Trade Name: The proposed business name needs prior

approval of the Registrar of Business, Companies
Commission of Malaysia (SSM). Example Kedai Dobi Mewah,
Lucky Star Catering and ABS Unggul Enterprise.

2. NAME APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Business Name Application Process

(a) Application for name search must be made using the PNA42 form.
The application form must be completed.

(b) If the requested name contains a word which requires the

approval of the Minister, the applicant must complete the
information and attach supporting documents for approval.

3. GUIDELINES FOR CONSIDERATION OF BUSINESS NAME

APPLICATION

Comply with the law/Act

 A business name should not go against the constitution, the law and
should not have any negative elements. Business names should not
contain prohibited words under these law:

(a) Rule 15, Business Registration Rules 1957 (See item 5);

(b) Government Gazette No. 716, Companies Act 1965 (See item
6); and

(c) Provisions of other laws on the prohibition of using certain words

without the consent of the laws’ governing and regulating party.

4. THE PRINCIPLES OF NAMING A BUSINESS

4.1 The usage of correct language and spelling

(a) The name has to use the correct language and spelling.
Using both Bahasa Malaysia and English in a name is
permissible if the use is to illustrate the type of business,
and it must use correct language.
Eg:
Padu Construction not Construction Padu
Kedai Dobi Power not Power Kedai Dobi

(b) If the name contains a word that is not from Bahasa

Malaysia or English or is fictitious, the meaning or origin
of the word must be given.

4.2 A name that is not too general

 The requested name must have an identity name and should
not be very common. Names are considered general when
using common words or only portraying activity;
Eg:
Technology Resources

4.3 Does not resemble a business name that has been

registered or in safekeeping

A business name is said to be identical/similar if it is only

distinguished by the following words or symbols:

(a) The symbol “&” or the letter “N”, or the word “dan”
or “and”;
Eg:
Light & Easy Trading = Light N Easy Trading
Light and Easy Trading = Light Easy Trading

(b) The usage of the symbol “.” (fullstop) atau ”-“ (dash);
Eg:
A-B-C Trading = A.B.C. Trading
ABC Resources = A.B.C. Resources

(c) Contains words that carry the same meaning;

Eg:
Builder= Build
Forwarding = Forwarders
 (d) Differences in plural and singular words;
Eg:
ABC Services = ABC Service
ABC Technology = ABC Technologies
ABC Publish = ABC Publishing

(e) The word “New”

Eg:
Golden Dynamic Trading = New Golden Dynamic
Trading

(f) The name of a business will be deemed to be different

and not identical if there is a difference in letters or
texts;
Eg:
Blue Star Trading not the same as Star Blue Trading
CM World Trading not the same as CMT World Trading
MCY Tech not the same as MYC Tech

(g) Combined common words combined are considered

common words and not the same if the whole name is
not the same.
Eg:
Setiabudi Maju Services not the same as Setiabudi
Jaya Services

4.4 Names that are vulgar, insulting or misleading in

terms of identity and object
 The proposed names should not contain:

(a) Elements of obscenity, insults or profanity

(b) A name is considered confusing in terms of identity

and object if the requested name is not in line with the
type of business;

Eg:
Restoran Maju (Store selling clothes)
Karate Academy (Store selling food)

4.5 Comply to Other Prescribed General Principles

(a) Words that touch or represent religious or religious

elements are not allowed

Eg:
Alkarim, Alqudus , Almuhaimin
Lord Sri Shiva Resources
Mekah Great God Enterprise

(b) The use names (of self/people) is allowed in the

following circumstances;

(i) When using the names of renowned figures,

consent should be sought from of that
particular individual or his/her heirs;

(ii) Names associated with local and foreign

historical figures such as Ibnu Sina, Cheng Ho,
 Marco Polo, Raffles, Parameswara, Hang Tuah
and the like;

(iii) Names that refer to the owner, must refer to

the proper individual;

(iv) Only the usage of the owner’s full name is

allowed in case the name contains special titles
such as Prince/Princess/King;
Eg:
Raja Gopal a/l Muthusamy Enterprise not Raja
Enterprise

(c) The name that contains works that can be confused as

an identity under the law or NGO/NPO such as
“Company”, “Co.” “Corporation”, “Body”,
“Foundation”’ and “Club” is not permitted to be used
as business name;

(d) The company name should not contain the names of

statutory bodies, government companies or agencies,
including;

(i) Abbreviations of institutions of higher learning

Eg:
UiTM, UTM, UM, UKM, UPM, UUM, USM, UIA,
UNIMAS, UMS, UIAM, UPSI, UMT, UMP, UTEM,
UNIMAP and others
 (ii) Abbreviations of the Federal or State
government agencies and Government-linked
Companies (GLCs);
Eg:
SSM, CCM, JKR, JPA, JPM, BNM, KPDNKK,
SEDC, PKEN, SIRIM, TNB, PNB, FELDA,
FELCRA, PETRONAS, SKM, MYCC, MIDA, KWSP,
LHDN, PERKESO, MARDI, RISDA and others.

(e) The usage of controlled and restricted words because

of national or public interest is not allowed:

(i) Words from government slogans such as "1

Malaysia", "Vision 2020", "Malaysia Boleh" and
other words that will be introduced from time
to time

(ii) An abbreviated name that can be confused with

other names common multi-national
companies’ names such as PNB, ICI, Kulim Hi-
Tech "Cyber" MSC / Multimedia Super Corridor
"or" Koridor Raya Multimedia "and others.

(f) Names that are related to activities controlled by

employment agencies or by a profession, are not
allowed:
Eg:
Architect, Engineer, Doctor, Pharmacists dan others
(g) Using the symbol “&” or the letter “N” to replace the
word “and”;
Eg:
D&T Services

(i) The symbol fullstop “.”;

Eg:
A.B.C Trade.

(ii) The symbol “-“(hyphen).

Only allowed for words like;
Eg:
Kupu-Kupu Design
Focus Re-Engineering

Words containing plural elements need not be used

with hyphens as the plural name is already
understood
Eg:
Kedai Barang Logam Jati
Pusat Alat Sukan Kencana,

(iii) The symbol“( )” brackets.

The usage of brackets is permitted under

appropriate conditions and purposes;
Eg:
ZY Advertising (2014)
ZY Advertising (Bangsar)
 (iv) The symbol “ ’ ” ( “apostrophe”) is allowed for
appropriate use:
Eg:
Dato’ Afiq Success Construction
Sa’diah Binti Muhammad Enterprise

(h) The use of numbers is allowed for appropriate use;

Eg:
123 Maju Enterprise
Maju Hijau 1 Enterprise

(i) The use of letters/alphabets is allowed for appropriate

use;
Eg:
ABCY Construction
ABCY Trading
CNMM Development

(j) The word "Malaysia" or the name of a state at the

beginning of the name shall not be permitted unless
it is in the interest of the Federal / State Government
or if it obtained consent from the party concerned;

Eg:
Malaysia Handicraft Center
Malaysia Trading

However words like that can be used in names like:

Eg:
Atiqah Kain Songket Terengganu
 (k) When using a combination of names / words
containing gazetted words, it shall be approved by
the Minister;

Eg:
DanaRakyat Consultant
RoyalHotel

(l) The use of names of places shall be followed by the

business description

Eg:
Teluk Intan Marketing
Ipoh Sweet & Candy Store

(m) The reuse of business name that has been expired /

terminated:

(i) Allowed after 12 months from the date of

termination or expiry of the business

(ii) Allowed if the business has been terminated

using Form C.

5. RULE 15, REGISTRATION OF BUSINESSES RULES 1957

Business names that shall not be registered except with the

consent of the Minister

(1) Except with the consent of the Minister, no business shall

registered by a name which,
 (a) Contains any word suggesting connection with the Yang di-
Pertuan Agong, the Raja Permaisuri Agong or the Ruler of a
state or a member of the Royal Family or Royal patronage,
including such words as “Royal” or any equivalent expression;

(b) Contains any word suggesting connection with the Federal or

a State government department, statutory body, authority
oragency or any municipality or other local authority,
including such words as “Federal”, “State” or “National”;

(c) Contains any word suggesting connection with any Asean,

Commonwealth or other foreign government or with any
other international organisation;

(d) Contains the word “Chartered” or any words suggesting

connection with any Society or body incorporated by “Royal
Charter”;

(e) Contains the word “Association” “Union”, “Foundation”,

“Trust”, “Forces”, “Co-operative”, “International” or any
equivalent expression;

(f) Contains any word that is blasphemous or likely to be

offensive to members of the public;

(g) Contains any word that is misleading as to the nature, scope

or importance of the business carried on or to be carried on
under such name;

(h) Contains any word that is offensive to any race or religion.

(2) The Registrar with the consent of the Minister may restrict the
usage of any other names which in his opinion is undesirable and
the Registrar shall cause such names to be published in the Gazette.

6. GOVERNMENT GAZETTE BIL DATED 30 JANUARY 1997

Direction of the Minister under Sections 22(1) and 341

Companies Act 1965

Pursuant to section 22(1) and 341 Companies Act 1965, the Minister
directs the Registrar of Companies not to accept for registration any
name of a company or a foreign company that is a name or a name
of kind mentioned in the Schedule unless prior approval of the
Minister has been obtained.

SCHEDULE

(a) Names suggesting connection with a member of the Royal

Family or Royal patronage including names containing such
words as “Royal”, “King”, “Queen”, “Prince”, “Princess”,
“Crown”, “Regent”, “Imperial”;

(b) Names suggesting connection with a State or Federal

government department, statutory body, authority or
government agency or any municipality or other local authority
including names containing such words as “Federal”, “State”,
“National”;

(c) Names suggesting connection with any Asean, Commonwealth

or foreign government or with the United Nation or with any
other international organisation or cartel including names
containing such words as “ASEAN”, “UNESCO”, “NATO”, “EEC”,
“OPEC”;

(d) Names suggesting connection with any political party, society,

trade union, co-operative society or building society;

(e) Names including the following words or any words of like

import: “Bank”, “Banker”, “Banking”, “Bumiputra”, “Bureau”,
“Chamber of Commerce and Industry”, “Chamber of
Manufacturers”, “Chartered”, “College”, “Consmer”, “Council”,
“Credit”, “Exchange”, “Executor”, “Fair Price”, “Finance”,
“Foundation”, “Fund”, “Guarantee”, “Institute”, “Insurance”,
“Investment”, “International”, “Leasing”, “Made in Malaysia”,
“Prime”, “Registry”, “Treasury”, “Trust”, “Unit Trust”,
“University”;

(f) Names that are misleadimg as to the identity, nature, objects

or purposes of a company or in any other manner;

(g) Names that are blasphemous or likely to be offensive to

members of the public;
(h) Names which –

(i) Are translation of a name of a company or foreign company

registered under the Act; or

(ii) May resemble or be mistaken for the name of any other

company or foreign company registered under the Act; or

(iii) May resemble or be mistaken for a name that is being

reserved for the purpose of incorporation of a new company
or registration of a foreign company or for the purpose of a
change of name of a company or foreign company
registered under the Act.